The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania 3)

“That’s what we’re here for,” Randall said. “Because it shouldn’t have been possible.”

The room took on a heavier feel due to Randall’s tone—one I’d never heard before. I’d known Randall to be sad and to be angry. Exasperated or bemused, usually directed toward me. And there were times, though few and far between, that I’d seen him happy. It always seemed to be around Morgan, and that made sense. They’d known each other for centuries. They’d been through so much together. I knew Randall loved Morgan, even if I’d never heard him say as much.

But this?

This was different.

There was more power emanating from him than I’d ever felt. The few people who didn’t know who Randall was upon first sight were quick to dismiss him as a haggard, decrepit old man. But those few people quickly changed their tune the moment his name was uttered, looking upon him with a healthy dose of awe and fear. There had never been one like Randall before. I doubted there would ever be one like him again. He was the wizard, and regardless of what people thought about me, regardless of what Morgan and Randall thought I could become, he was still the most powerful magic user in the known world. He had centuries on me, and since I didn’t plan on living that long, I doubted I would ever be on his level.

Still didn’t mean I wouldn’t give him shit. He was an asshole. I was a dick. It was pretty much my job to fuck with him.

But I wouldn’t do it right now, because the hairs were standing up on the back of my neck, and I felt magic drawing around us. And even though only Morgan and myself could feel it, the others knew something had shifted. Randall was standing a little taller, his shoulders squared. Sure, he was wearing magenta robes and an orange hat that clashed horribly and made it feel like my eyes were being assaulted by a man named Primary Colors, and yes, his beard was scraggly because it looked as if all the hairs had migrated to his ears and/or eyebrows, but holy fuck. If they could feel even only a fraction of what I could, then they would know shit was about to hit the fan.

And I had no idea why.

But it seemed three others in the room did, if the looks on their faces meant anything.

Mama.

Feng.

Letnia.

“I went to the seal,” Randall said. “In the Dark Woods. I thought it safeguarded, but—no matter. It’d been broken, and deliberately so. But not so much split down the middle as having a little piece chipped off. Enough to allow a shadow to leak through, if it was strong enough. And it was done in such a way that it would have been hidden from me.”

“Surely you don’t think—” Letnia started as she placed her cigar in an ashtray on Mama’s desk, the smoke curling up, the embers burning bright.

“Your families were chosen,” Randall interrupted, “because of their strength and power. Because of how deep their blood ran through the veins of Verania. Your great-great-grandparents were tasked with guarding the keys to the seal. They were split because no one person should have ever had the power to break it open. It was locked for a reason.”

“What the hell is going on?” Ryan whispered to me.

I shook my head, because once again, I wasn’t sure. Yet another thing that had been kept from me. I glanced at Morgan, but his eyes were trained on Randall, like he was analyzing every word. But I knew my mentor almost better than anyone. Something was happening, and he was preparing himself. I felt the colors of his magic rolling through mine, the green and gold mixing with the red and violet hues that always seemed to be around him.

“Surely you don’t think that one of us would betray you, do you?” Mama asked, eyes wide. “Randall, we would never—”

“Someone did,” Randall said sharply. “And now Sam has paid the price for that mistake.”

“Um,” I said. “I’m totally okay to be left out of this argument. Whatever this is.”

“Tell him,” Randall said. “Tell him what your families were chosen to do.”

At first no one said anything, and I didn’t think I’d ever been in a more uncomfortable situation. Then Mama said, “After Myrin was banished to the realm of shadows, it was decided that the keys to the seal were too much for one person to have.” She started clicking her nails on the surface of the desk. “If there was ever a resurgence, if the Darks ever tried to bring Myrin back, it’d be far too easy to get the keys if they were all in one place, even if it was one such as Randall who held them. So they were dispersed to three families in Verania, families whose names carried weight, even if it wasn’t necessarily for the right reason.” She smiled ruefully at me. “After all, who could ever believe such a treasure could be given to those who made their money peddling flesh or drugs or weapons.”

“So it was passed down,” I said slowly. “From generation to generation.”

Mama nodded. “Our biggest treasure, our greatest secret. We are the protectors of the keys to the seal where Myrin had been trapped. At first our families were spread out across Verania, but eventually we found ourselves here, in Meridian City. Randall wasn’t pleased by the idea of all of us in one place, but Meridian City has a tendency to become a… distraction from everything important. It was hiding in plain sight. Not that we had anything to hide from. No one had ever come for the keys since they were given to us. Not once. It was almost easy to forget that we had them at all.”

“And now that Sam has confirmed Myrin has risen, that means that one of you has betrayed me,” Randall said, effectively sucking any and all fun out of the room.

“Whoa,” I breathed. “Dude. Heavy.”

“I take umbrage at your tone,” Letnia snapped. “We have done our duty, as our parents did, and their parents before them. We would no more betray you than—”

“Show me the keys,” Randall said.

“Far out,” I whispered fervently. “It’s like a standoff right now! Gary is going to be so pissed he’s not here to see this.”

Morgan smacked me upside the head. “This is serious.”